After the shuttle, Florida's space industry alive and well

DON WHITE

Published: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at 5:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.

It seems like yesterday to me, but it has been well over a year since the space shuttle Atlantis safely landed at Kennedy Space Center, ending the 30-year space transportation program or "shuttle program." For some around our state, and many across the country, the shuttle program was synonymous with the space program — and therefore, the space program had just ended. This misunderstanding is perhaps due to the shuttle program's public visibility, longevity, and positive impact on our daily lives.

The truth is that while the shuttle program remained in the limelight for 30 years, our state was also busy supporting many other space-related businesses. We were assembling and launching unmanned rockets carrying military, science, and commercial satellites. We were educating our students on space, and developing commercial applications of space-driven technologies. We were manufacturing satellite components and developing next-generation navigation instruments.

Florida has a passion for aerospace. It's in our blood. We have eyewitness knowledge of what space has done for our nation, our state, and our economy.

Aerospace still means business in Florida. Nearly all of our 67 counties contribute to our $9 billion state aerospace industry, fed by a cluster of nearly 500 companies employing 30,000 residents. And today, in the post-shuttle era, we have a unique opportunity in our state to match the demand for new space industries with the supply of a talented and ambitious workforce, underutilized infrastructure, business-friendly environment, and an admirable quality of life. We are distinctively positioned to lead the world in industries such as suborbital commercial tourism and unmanned aerial systems, while maintaining our dominance in orbital launch and planetary exploration.

We are not without competition, however. Other states and countries recognize these same opportunities, and are aggressively pursuing new businesses. We must continue to leverage our private industry's longstanding relationship with NASA, the U.S. military, and elected officials to collectively advance our vision of Florida's leadership role in space.

We must also make a concerted effort to partner with our state's educators to expand students' exposure to our exciting industry and align education with industry demands. As an example, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University — America's largest aviation and aerospace academic institution — recently announced a new undergraduate degree program in commercial space operations. It's the first of its kind in the country, and created in response to industry demand.

My colleagues and I will bring this message to Tallahassee today at Florida Space Day 2013, an annual event to educate state legislators about the importance of aerospace in Florida. We need their continued support to ensure that aerospace means business in Florida.

<p>It seems like yesterday to me, but it has been well over a year since the space shuttle Atlantis safely landed at Kennedy Space Center, ending the 30-year space transportation program or "shuttle program." For some around our state, and many across the country, the shuttle program was synonymous with the space program &mdash; and therefore, the space program had just ended. This misunderstanding is perhaps due to the shuttle program's public visibility, longevity, and positive impact on our daily lives. </p><p>The truth is that while the shuttle program remained in the limelight for 30 years, our state was also busy supporting many other space-related businesses. We were assembling and launching unmanned rockets carrying military, science, and commercial satellites. We were educating our students on space, and developing commercial applications of space-driven technologies. We were manufacturing satellite components and developing next-generation navigation instruments. </p><p>Florida has a passion for aerospace. It's in our blood. We have eyewitness knowledge of what space has done for our nation, our state, and our economy. </p><p>Aerospace still means business in Florida. Nearly all of our 67 counties contribute to our $9 billion state aerospace industry, fed by a cluster of nearly 500 companies employing 30,000 residents. And today, in the post-shuttle era, we have a unique opportunity in our state to match the demand for new space industries with the supply of a talented and ambitious workforce, underutilized infrastructure, business-friendly environment, and an admirable quality of life. We are distinctively positioned to lead the world in industries such as suborbital commercial tourism and unmanned aerial systems, while maintaining our dominance in orbital launch and planetary exploration. </p><p>We are not without competition, however. Other states and countries recognize these same opportunities, and are aggressively pursuing new businesses. We must continue to leverage our private industry's longstanding relationship with NASA, the U.S. military, and elected officials to collectively advance our vision of Florida's leadership role in space. </p><p>We must also make a concerted effort to partner with our state's educators to expand students' exposure to our exciting industry and align education with industry demands. As an example, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University &mdash; America's largest aviation and aerospace academic institution &mdash; recently announced a new undergraduate degree program in commercial space operations. It's the first of its kind in the country, and created in response to industry demand. </p><p>My colleagues and I will bring this message to Tallahassee today at Florida Space Day 2013, an annual event to educate state legislators about the importance of aerospace in Florida. We need their continued support to ensure that aerospace means business in Florida.</p>